The Louisiana office of the inspector general confirmed it is looking into allegations that the state fire marshal's office mishandled complaints about a Grand Isle apartment building made months before two people were killed in a fire there. It marks the agency's second investigation of State Fire Marshal Butch Browning's department this year. Both cases were launched after complaints...

Both cases were launched after complaints filed by the watchdog Metropolitan Crime Commission. Inspector General Stephen Street said his agency is finalizing the first probe, which began back in March when the crime commission forwarded information that Browning had worn military medals he didn't earn, approved pay for employees for time they did not work and mismanaged the investigation of a carnival-ride accident that seriously injured two teenagers in St. Helena Parish.

The State Police cleared Browning of wrongdoing following an internal affairs investigation in May. But the state inspector general's probe was still underway at the time. "We are nearly finished with the first stage of those (complaints) and hope to release a report very soon," Street said Wednesday.

The second investigation is still in its early stages. Street would comment no further than to confirm that he recently received information from the crime commission about Browning's office regarding the Sept. 26 fire at the Willow Creek Apartments, 2727 Louisiana 1, Grand Isle.

Rafael Goyeneche, the commission's president, said his investigation determined the fire marshal's office received complaints about potential fire hazards at the apartments six months before the blaze that took the lives of residents Belle Brandl, 60, and Timothy Foret, 46. Goyeneche said the office failed to adequately follow up on those complaints and thoroughly inspect the property.

"It's another manifestation of the problems that we identified in our March complaint to the IG's office," Goyeneche said. "What we're seeing in Grand Isle is the continuation of a pattern of poor judgment, questionable integrity and mismanagement that's placing public safety at risk."

Brant Thompson, deputy chief of the fire marshal's office, said as of Thursday, he had not been notified by the inspector general's office of a second investigation. But he said his office intends to fully cooperate. He called the deaths a tragedy, but said: "Our position is that we did properly respond to those complaints."

Grand Isle resident Milton Bourgeois, whose property adjoins the apartments, sent a letter to the state fire marshal's office on March 20, imploring officials to perform an inspection at the former motel, which he called an "extreme severe fire hazard." Bourgeois noted his belief that there were no fire extinguishers or a fire alarm system for the rooms. He described deplorable conditions, including rodents, missing doors and missing windows.

Nunzio Marchiafava, the New Orleans district supervisor for the fire marshal's office, visited the apartment building on April 2 and May 25. Marchiafava found no owner or manager at the property either time. But he spoke to one resident who confirmed the presence of a smoke detector, though the resident would not let him inside.

Marchiafava never entered any of the apartments. Thompson said to do so would have required the permission of every individual resident of the building or a court order. He said there were no noteable fire hazards or any other indicators - such as a direct complaint from a tenant -- that such steps were necessary.

"The inspector made his way around the facility and did look at all sides," Thompson said. "Had he observed items that were in violation of the codes, then he would have taken steps to have those things remedied before he left that day. There was nothing during his two visits which caused him any great deal of concern."

Arson investigators ultimately could not determine the cause of the Sept. 26 fire, though they ruled out natural or electrical sources. They found that the blaze was started by human means, either intentional or unintentional.

The presence or absence of smoke detectors would not have saved the residents because the fire started outside of the apartments, Thompson said. "It's our findings that the information contained in that complaint played no factor in the development of this fire," Thompson said.

No one will ever know that for sure, Goyeneche contends, because complete inspections were never performed. There's not even a formal inspection report.

Thompson said no inspection report was required because no fire hazards were found. The inspector was only required, he said, to document that a visit had taken place, paperwork his office turned over to the crime commission.

Goyeneche disagreed, saying the office's policies do require a report. And the documents submitted by the state fire marshal's office include a May 16 email message from Assistant Fire Marshal Dan Wallis asks Marchiafava to forward "the inspection report and any other information regarding this complaint."

"Their paperwork," Goyeneche said, "confirms that they did not conduct an inspection. They did not follow their own protocols."